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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 15 May 2013 a policy briefing titled "Kenya After the Elections." Jubilee Coalition's Uhuru Kenyatta won 50.07 per cent of the vote in the 4 March 2013 elections. It was just enough to pass the threshold for a first round victory.

The ICG argues that President Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, will have to restore confidence in the electoral process and show robust commitment to the implementation of the new constitution, in particular to political devolution, land reform, the fight against corruption and national reconciliation. The focus will need to be on implementing the constitution, ensuring the smooth transition to devolved government and bringing justice to the victims of the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

With the first election under the 2010 constitution complete, Kenyans now anticipate the full force of reforms that aim to redress grievances against centralized governance and uneven economic development. Through devolved government, the 47 newly created counties, with their own elected governors and assemblies, will seek to tackle socio-economic inequalities. ICG believes, however, that faith in the central government's will and capacity to implement reforms has been weakened by the failures in the reformed electoral machinery.